Private School Scholarships with 2023 Deadlines

In the United States, there are 34,576 private K-12 schools and 1,660 private nonprofit colleges and universities. A private school is a school that is not financed by the government, meaning that these schools often have higher costs than public schools.

If you are considering private education, it is important to note that private schools and universities can be extremely expensive. Among the K-12 private schools in the United States, the average annual tuition is $12,350. Attending a private high school can be even more expensive, as the average tuition is $16,040.

In addition to your education level, the type of school that you go to can affect tuition prices. $16,000 is the median tuition at private day schools, but at boarding schools, the average annual tuition is $37,590. Additionally, many religious schools, but especially catholic schools, are significantly cheaper than nonsectarian schools. The average tuition at private catholic schools is $4,840.

Private colleges and universities can be as expensive as private elementary and secondary schools. The average annual tuition at a private university is $30,065. Unlike private K-12 schools, though, private colleges and universities have other forms of financial assistance like federal loans and grants that can bring down tuition costs. 

While private universities can have more financial aid options, there are still plenty of financial aid options for any school that you want to attend. If you're a high school or college student who needs financial aid in order to attend a private school, there are scholarship funds that can help. While many of our scholarships are catered towards current or future college students, Bold.org is a great option for students if you need to find scholarships. Create a profile and start applying to our scholarships on our website.

How to qualify for private school scholarships

Attend a private K-12 school

In order to qualify for private school scholarships, you have to attend a private school full-time. If you're in high school, you may be able to use a scholarship to pay for private school tuition. While most private organizations only offer scholarships for college tuition assistance, there may be some scholarships from the government or from specific private schools that can help with tuition.

Attend a private university

A private school scholarship can also be for students who attend a private college or university. If you're a current or perspective student at one of the private colleges and universities in the United States, you may be eligible for private school scholarships.

Meet any other eligibility requirements

Some scholarships have additional requirements beyond just being a student in a private school. Students could need to have a certain field of study, education level, or career goals in order to get financial assistance. Student eligibility may also depend on the types of extracurricular activities that a student participates in. Make sure you check all of the eligibility criteria for scholarships before you apply.

How to get a private school scholarship

At certain private schools, there are scholarship programs for low-income families. To get tuition assistance for a private K-12 school, you have to talk to the financial aid office at the schools that you wish to apply to. Most of these scholarships are given out based on financial need, which means that your household income will be taken into consideration. They may also have a scholarship award for students of certain identities or students with certain test scores.

Undergraduate students and graduate students can also get scholarships either by submitting the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or applying for scholarships online. Undocumented students and international students are ineligible to complete the FAFSA but are still eligible for university scholarships or private scholarships. Bold.org has a variety of scholarships for any undergraduate or graduate student, including undocumented and international students.

How to find scholarships for students in private schools

You can find plenty of scholarships on Bold.org. If you go to our website, you can use the filter feature to browse scholarships by category. By going to the "education" category, you will be able to see all of the scholarships available to students in private school. You can even bookmark scholarships you're interested in so you can go back to them later and apply.

While Bold.org does not have scholarships that help with K-12 education, you can find some scholarships during your high school career that could help you with your future college education. To find scholarships that you can apply to in high school, you can filter the scholarships by education level or you can look at this list of scholarships for high school students.

How to apply for private school scholarships

Applying for financial aid can be a daunting process, but it is an important step for your college education. Many private schools have college scholarships that you can apply for through the FAFSA or through your university. If you want to find scholarships with an easy application process, though, Bold.org is the perfect place.

On Bold.org, it is extremely easy to find and apply for scholarships. Once you have a profile, you can apply for scholarships in only a few clicks. Applying for scholarships typically requires an essay submission, but no-essay scholarships often just require a few minutes to apply. Each scholarship will have relevant instructions or essay prompts in the description, making the application process simple.

When you apply for scholarships, keep in mind that there are certain ways to increase your chances of winning, such as having a detailed profile, earning as many bold points as possible, and writing impressive essays.

When to start applying for scholarships

When it comes to securing financial aid for your college degree, it's never too early to start. You can begin applying for scholarships as early as high school so that you can apply for a larger range of scholarships and minimize your need for student loans. Many students begin applying for scholarships as high school seniors, but applying earlier will give you a head start on tackling your college costs.

However, don't worry if you're already in college and just starting to apply. Many scholarships are geared towards students pursuing college degrees or even graduate students, so you have plenty of time to apply. Bold.org has college scholarships for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.For more information about scholarships and student loans, you can also check out our blog page.

Frequently asked questions about private school scholarships

What GPA do you need to get a full scholarship?

Most scholarship programs require students to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for a full-ride scholarship. Although a strong GPA helps increase your chances of getting a full-ride scholarship, you don't need a perfect GPA to be qualified for a scholarship program. Some scholarships focus on financial need rather than academic achievement.

If you have a lower GPA and still need a full scholarship, you can find some scholarships without GPA requirements like the "Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship, which offers $25,016 to a student just for having a great Bold.org profile.

How do school vouchers work?

School vouchers redirect public education funds for tuition to K-12 private schools. Not all states offer school vouchers, but vouchers are available in nearly 30 states. These states offer school voucher programs as a way to allow parents to choose what school their child attends. Parents receive funds to use toward the cost of private school. In some cases, they may also be used for homeschooling.

Some states only offer vouchers to students who apply for the program and fall into certain groups. These groups include students with disabilities, students from low-income families who meet certain income thresholds, and students who are zoned for a school that’s failing. Vouchers can not be applied to tuition for religious schools, but you can obtain other forms of financial aid if you're ineligible for vouchers.

Instead of a traditional voucher, money could be placed into an education savings accounts (ESA). States set aside money and put it in individual accounts for students. Parents can use the money toward the cost of private school tuition. But they can also spend it on homeschooling like online courses or tutoring, and they can even use it on some types of therapy. While traditional vouchers can only be used at participating schools, parents who use ESA funds for tuition can “spend” it at whatever school they choose.

States can also offer tax credit scholarships, where states give businesses or individuals tax credits to donate money to a scholarship organization. Students who meet the requirements of the program can use the scholarship money toward tuition at a private school.

What is the easiest way to get a scholarship?

A great place to get scholarships is through your prospective college. Some private schools automatically consider each applicant for a merit-based scholarship, which is awarded during the acceptance process. These types of scholarships are often the easiest to obtain, since they do not require a separate application.

Many scholarships require you to complete the FAFSA. If necessary, talk to your family early to get help completing this before the deadline. With a completed FAFSA, you'll have access to federal and university scholarships, loans, and grants.

Another great place to search for college scholarships, which often has a higher chance of success, is through private organizations. By finding local organizations or churches, you can see whether they offer any scholarship money. If you'd rather look online, though, you can easily get a scholarship on Bold.org. We have plenty of no-essay scholarships that only take a couple minutes to apply for.